Method and apparatus for lubricating a transmission of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for lubricating a transmission of a motor vehicle, particularly a power divider, wherein the oil is conveyed by an oil pump from an oil sump to components of the transmission. The amount of oil conveyed is set as a function of the predetermined parameters. The conveyed amount of oil is controlled in that the oil pump is operated intermittently, e.g. is switched on and off repeatedly. The invention further describes a device for carrying out the method.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for lubricating a transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of transmission components; 
 an oil pump conveying an amount of lubricating oil to said transmission components; 
 a drive unit receiving an input voltage and using the input voltage to drive said oil pump, wherein the input voltage is received by said drive unit during preset durations of time and no voltage is received by said drive unit during intervals between the preset durations of time, and wherein a first group of the preset durations of time during which the input voltage is received by the drive unit are equal to one another, a second group of the preset durations of time following the first group are equal to one another, and the preset durations of time of the first group are different from the preset durations of time of the second group, 
 the input voltage received by said drive unit during each preset duration of time is greater than a minimum voltage required to start said drive unit and said oil pump, and 
 the amount of lubricating oil conveyed by said oil pump to said transmission components is proportional to the input voltage received by said drive unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , including a control unit providing the input voltage to said drive unit by repeatedly switching the drive unit on and off. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein said control unit receives parameters relevant to operation of said transmission components and adjusts the input voltage provided to said drive unit based on the parameters. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of lubricating oil conveyed from said oil pump to said transmission components is a desired amount and is conveyed intermittently. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the preset durations of time during which the input voltage is received by the drive unit are equal to one another. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the preset durations of time follow one another and repeat continuously. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the preset durations of time together equal a total duration of time, the input voltage received by said drive unit during the total duration of time causes the amount of lubricating oil conveyed by said oil pump to equal a preset desired amount, and wherein the input voltage received by said drive unit during the total duration of time is less than the minimum voltage required to start said drive unit and said oil pump when the input voltage is received by said drive unit continuously over the total duration of time without the intervals. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission components include a plurality of gears and a clutch with discs. 
     
     
       9. A method for lubricating a transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:
 providing an input voltage to a drive unit during preset durations of time and providing no voltage to the drive unit during intervals between the preset durations of time; 
 driving an oil pump using the input voltage provide to the drive unit; and 
 the step of driving the oil pump including conveying an amount of lubricating oil from the oil pump to transmission components, wherein the amount of lubricating oil conveyed is proportional to the input voltage provided to the drive unit during each preset duration of time, wherein the input voltage is greater than a minimum voltage required to start the drive unit and the oil pump, and wherein a first group of the preset durations of time during which the input voltage is provided to the drive unit are equal to one another, a second group of the preset durations of time following the first group are equal to one another, and the preset durations of time of the first group are different from the preset durations of time of the second group. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the amount of lubricating oil conveyed from the oil pump to the transmission components is a desired amount and is conveyed intermittently. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of providing the input voltage to the drive unit includes repeatedly switching the drive unit on and off, and the step of driving the oil pump includes repeatedly switching the oil pump on and off. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , including adjusting the input voltage provided to the drive unit during the preset durations of time to adjust the amount lubricating oil conveyed to the transmission components. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , including adjusting the length of the preset durations of time during which the input voltage is provided to the drive unit. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , including obtaining parameters relevant to operation of the transmission components and adjusting the input voltage provided to the drive unit based on the parameters. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of the preset durations of time during which the input voltage is provided to the drive unit are equal to one another. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the transmission components include a plurality of gears and a clutch with discs. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the preset durations of time during which the input voltage is provided to the drive unit follow one another and repeat continuously. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the preset durations of time together equal a total duration of time, the input voltage provided to the drive unit during the total duration of time causes the amount of lubricating oil conveyed by the oil pump to equal a preset desired amount, and wherein the input voltage provided to the drive unit during the total duration of time is less than the minimum voltage required to start the drive unit and the oil pump when the input voltage is provided to the drive unit continuously over the total duration of time without the intervals. 
     
     
       19. A system for lubricating a transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a plurality of transmission components; 
 an oil pump conveying an amount of lubricating oil to said transmission components; 
 a drive unit receiving an input voltage and using the input voltage to drive said oil pump, wherein the input voltage is received by said drive unit during preset durations of time and no voltage is received by said drive unit during intervals between the preset durations of time, 
 the input voltage received by said drive unit during each preset duration of time is greater than a minimum voltage required to start said drive unit and said oil pump, 
 the amount of lubricating oil conveyed by said oil pump to said transmission components is proportional to the input voltage received by said drive unit, and 
 wherein the preset durations of time together equal a total duration of time, the input voltage received by said drive unit during the total duration of time causes the amount of lubricating oil conveyed by said oil pump to equal a preset desired amount, and wherein the input voltage received by said drive unit during the total duration of time is less than the minimum voltage required to start said drive unit and said oil pump when the input voltage is received by said drive unit continuously over the total duration of time without the intervals.